Question Period Note: COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT

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• Canada is well positioned to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines to all Canadians in 2021, having negotiated agreements with 7 promising vaccine manufacturers.

• The announcement of the agreement with Pfizer to provide up to 249k early doses in December is great news for all Canadians. Pending regulatory approval, this new development will allow us to bring vaccines to Canadians earlier than anticipated.

• The Government of Canada is working closely with provinces, territories and public health partners to align plans for the timely rollout of the vaccines once they are authorized by Health Canada as safe and effective.

• Federal, provincial and territorial officials and ministers meet regularly to share information about how we will distribute and administer the vaccines. We are also collaborating on communications plans so that Canadians will have the information they need.

• We want to ensure we are ready to get the vaccine to Canadians as quickly as possible. This is why we are working with provinces, territories, Indigenous leaders and stakeholders to address potential gaps in the supply chain and procuring additional assets.
• Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Armed Forces has been working closely with our federal, provincial, and territorial partners to support the overall Government of Canada's COVID-19 response.

• The Canadian Armed Forces are supporting the Public Health Agency of Canada in their coordination of the national COVID-19 vaccine strategy, including by providing personnel who are sharing their expertise and experience to assist the Public Health Agency of Canada during this planning phase.
• On December 7, the Government initiated “dry runs” in 10 designated sites across the country to test ordering and shipping from factory to clinic, marking another key step in ensuring our readiness to launch the immunization program.

• Respecting nation to nation relationships, we are engaging with National Indigenous Organizations to allow for dialogue on the rollout in their communities.

• The National Emergency Strategic Stockpile has already acquired and begun to position supplies such as millions of needles, syringes and alcohol swabs as well as freezers for vaccine storage across the country in preparation for the first vaccines.
• We know that even with the news of earlier-than-anticipated doses, supply will be limited to reach up to 3 million Canadians. That is why we are working to identify the priority groups. The availability of vaccine will augment throughout the year, ultimately providing every Canadian with the opportunity to be immunized.

• In the spirit of transparency, on December 8, the Government published its COVID-19 Immunization Plan, which provides Canadians with more information on how governments are working together to prepare for the immunization campaign.

Preparing provinces and territories for COVID-19 vaccine deployment
Provincial and territorial governments deliver vaccination programs and determine public health requirements in their jurisdictions, while considering national vaccine expert advice. Planning is underway and will take into account guidance from Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), to prepare for vaccine availability and administration through public immunization programs.

On November 3, NACI released its preliminary guidance on key populations for early COVID-19 vaccination, outlining a recommended targeted vaccination program. NACI’s preliminary guidance outlines a targeted vaccination program that achieves public health goals as efficiently, effectively and equitably as possible when vaccine supply is limited. Their recommendations are a starting point that will help inform government decision-making around rolling-out vaccine programs once Canada has access to safe and effect COVID-19 vaccines. On December 4, further advice from NACI was published in which the following sequencing of priority populations was recommended: congregate living settings that provide care for seniors, adults 80 years of age or older; health care workers; and, adults in remote or isolated Indigenous communities and in the territories.

In addition, we are working with provinces and territories to ensure that the health care system is prepared to roll out a national vaccination program when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, including ensuring that we have sufficient supplies such as needles and syringes, for vaccination clinics.

As we learn more information about the vaccines and when they may be available, federal, provincial and territorial officials are meeting frequently – both bilaterally and multilaterally – to refine plans for the distribution and administration of vaccines throughout Canada. For those vaccines that may be approved first, this includes detailed planning to ensure that the complicated logistical requirements associated with maintaining the necessary temperatures (as cold as -80oC) can be maintained throughout distribution. We are also working collaboratively on information sharing so that information about coverage rates and vaccine safety, as well as inventory levels, can be monitored and any potential issues addressed quickly and effectively.

We are also collaborating on communications efforts to build vaccine confidence and to inform Canadians about how the vaccine roll-out will take place.

A National Operations Centre (NOC) is being established within PHAC, with the support of the Canadian Armed Forces, to coordinate the vaccine orders from FPTs to manufacturers, vaccine distribution by the LSP from the manufacturers to FPTs, and potential vaccine recalls. On December 7, the Government initiated “dry run” rehearsals in 10 designated sites across the country to test ordering and shipping from factory to clinics. The dry runs will help validate and confirm Pfizer shipping, tracking and temperature monitoring; confirm NOC ordering and tracking process; and, confirm readiness of 10 PT sites to receive Pfizer shipments. The shipments will not include actual vaccines, but the thermal shipper will contain dry ice and the data logger to recording the temperature throughout shipment.

In order to ensure supply chain gaps can be filled and contingencies are available, we are also engaging the private sector to deliver a broad range of end-to-end logistics and support services for the safe management and timely distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, intended to align with and support existing provincial and territorial capacity. A contract was awarded to a consortium to provide Logistics Services.

On December 8, Canada’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan, was released. The goal of the immunization response is to enable as many Canadians to be immunized as quickly as possible against COVID-19, while ensuring that high-risk populations are prioritized. While the immunization response is large and multifaceted, Canada is in a strong position to take on this challenge.

SYNOPSIS
The Government of Canada is committed to securing sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines and to supporting the timely rollout of the vaccines